Why is consistently high blood pressure dangerous

Intensive blood pressure control might lessen cognitive loss. National Institutes of Health. See also Medication-free hypertension control 6 surprising signs you may have obstructive sleep apnea After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use? Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure? Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise? Blood pressure chart Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter?

Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern? Blood pressure: Is it affected by cold weather? Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight? Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides? Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home? Blood pressure test Blood pressure tip: Get more potassium Blood pressure tip: Get off the couch Blood pressure tip: Know alcohol limits Blood pressure tip: Stress out no more Blood pressure tip: Watch the caffeine Blood pressure tip: Watch your weight Blood sugar levels can fluctuate for many reasons Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes How kidneys work Build resilience to better handle diabetes Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?

Caffeine and hypertension Calcium channel blockers Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs? Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure? Diabetes and foot care Diabetes and Heat Diabetes and menopause Diabetes and summer: How to beat the heat Diabetes and travel: Planning is key Diabetes and electric blankets 10 ways to avoid diabetes complications Diabetes diet: Should I avoid sweet fruits?

Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan Diabetes foods: Can I substitute honey for sugar? Diabetes and liver Diabetes management: Does aspirin therapy prevent heart problems?

Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar Diabetes: Eating out Diabetes nutrition: Sweets Diabetes symptoms Diabetes treatment: Can cinnamon lower blood sugar? Using insulin Diuretics Diuretics: A cause of low potassium? Diuretics: Cause of gout? Dizziness Do infrared saunas have any health benefits? Do you know your blood pressure? Does obstructive sleep apnea increase my risk for Alzheimer's disease?

Drug addiction substance use disorder High blood pressure and exercise Fibromuscular dysplasia Free blood pressure machines: Are they accurate? Home blood pressure monitoring Glomerulonephritis Glycemic index: A helpful tool for diabetes?

Guillain-Barre syndrome Headaches Know your type Headaches and hormones Headaches: Treatment depends on your diagnosis and symptoms Is chocolate healthy? Herbal supplements and heart drugs High blood pressure hypertension High blood pressure and cold remedies: Which are safe? High blood pressure and sex High blood pressure: Can you prevent it?

How opioid addiction occurs How to get used to positive airway pressure PAP therapy How to tell if a loved one is abusing opioids How to use opioids safely Hunter syndrome Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms? Hypothermia IgA nephropathy Berger's disease Improve obstructive sleep apnea with physical activity Insulin and weight gain Insulin therapy options Intensive insulin therapy Intracranial hematoma Isolated systolic hypertension: A health concern?

Kratom for opioid withdrawal L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure? Late-night eating: OK if you have diabetes? Preventing lead exposure Lead poisoning Living better with obstructive sleep apnea Low-phosphorus diet: Helpful for kidney disease? Making sense of obstructive sleep apnea treatments Diabetes and carbs Medications and supplements that can raise your blood pressure Menopause and high blood pressure: What's the connection? Molar pregnancy MRI: Is gadolinium safe for people with kidney problems?

Porphyria Postpartum preeclampsia Preeclampsia Prescription drug abuse Primary aldosteronism Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health? Reading food labels Renal diet for vegetarians Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure?

This drug is relatively new, and healthcare professionals are still determining its optimal use and dosage. It is essential to read the packaging of any medication to check for interactions with other drugs.

Find out more detail here about blood pressure medications. A healthful, balanced diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, vegetable and omega oils, and good quality, unrefined carbohydrates , such as whole grains.

People who include animal products in their diet should trim all the fat off and avoid processed meats. Experts recommend reducing salt consumption and increasing potassium intake to manage or prevent high blood pressure.

Limiting salt intake to less than 5—6 grams per day could help improve cardiovascular health and reduce systolic blood pressure by 5.

In moderation, plant sources of fats, such as avocados, nuts, olive oil, and omega oils, can be healthful. People should limit their intake of saturated fats and trans fats, common in animal-sourced and processed foods. Health experts recommend the DASH diet for people with high blood pressure. The DASH diet focuses on an eating plan that emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and low-fat dairy products. Which foods are good for reducing blood pressure?

Some studies indicate that consuming some alcohol may help lower blood pressure. However, others report the opposite, noting that even drinking a moderate amount might increase blood pressure levels.

People who regularly drink more than moderate amounts of alcohol will almost always experience elevated blood pressure levels. Studies into the relationship between caffeine and blood pressure have produced conflicting results. A report published in concluded that a moderate intake of coffee appears to be safe for people with high blood pressure. The AHA recommend a range of lifestyle adjustments that can help reduce blood pressure, such as:. Regular exercise may help lower blood pressure.

The AHA note that most healthy people should do at least minutes of moderate intensity physical exercise a week. This could be 30 minutes — or three lots of 10 minutes a day — on 5 days of the week. However, a person who has not exercised for a while or who has a new diagnosis should talk to their doctor before starting a new physical activity program to ensure the choices they make are suitable for them.

Studies have revealed that losing as little as 5—10 pounds in weight can help reduce blood pressure. For more advice on maintaining weight loss, click here. Increasing sleep alone cannot treat hypertension, but too little sleep and poor sleep quality may make it worse. A analysis of data from a Korean national health survey found that people who had less than 5 hours of sleep per night were more likely to have hypertension.

In this article , you can find more tips on how to manage high blood pressure. The NCCIH add, however, that there is not yet enough evidence to confirm that these can make a difference.

Some supplements can have adverse effects. They may raise blood pressure or interact with medications. Meditation and exercise therapies are usually safe, but some poses may not be suitable for people with high blood pressure. Get some tips for lowering blood pressure naturally. Learn more here about what makes systolic and diastolic pressure. There are different devices for measuring blood pressure.

A doctor will often use a manual sphygmomanometer with a stethoscope. Digital devices are suitable for home use, and they available from pharmacies and for purchase online. Read our review of the best home blood pressure monitors currently available for home use.

When a person gets a blood pressure reading, they will have one of the following :. At this stage, a doctor will advise the individual to make lifestyle changes to return their blood pressure to the normal range. A person will typically need more than one reading to confirm a diagnosis, as various factors can affect the result. However, a doctor will take immediate action if a reading shows very high blood pressure or if there are signs of organ damage or other complications.

Urine and blood tests: These can check for underlying problems, such as a urine infection or kidney damage. The results can give important clues about heart health. For a person with hypertension and high cholesterol levels, a doctor may order an ECG as a baseline for comparing future results.

Changes in future results might show that coronary artery disease is developing or that the heart wall is thickening. Holter monitoring : For 24 hours, the individual carries an ECG portable device that connects to their chest through electrodes.

This device can provide an overview of blood pressure throughout the day and show how it changes as the level of activity varies. Echocardiogram : Ultrasound waves show the heart in motion. The doctor will be able to detect problems, such as thickening of the heart wall, defective heart valves, blood clots, and excessive fluid around the heart. High blood pressure can have a severe impact on:. The cardiovascular system : High blood pressure can cause the arteries to harden, increasing the risk of a blockage.

The heart : A blockage can reduce blood flow to the heart, increasing the risk of angina , heart failure, or a heart attack. The brain : A blockage in the arteries can lower or prevent blood flow to the brain, leading to a stroke. The kidneys : High blood pressure can result in kidney damage and chronic kidney disease. Decongestants are a useful over-the-counter remedy when people have a stuffy or runny nose, but some decongestants can raise blood pressure.

A person should explain to their pharmacist that they have high blood pressure and ask them to recommend a suitable option. The main risk factors for high blood pressure are likely to be environmental, but genetic factors may play a role.

Hypertension can run in families, and people from certain ethnic and racial backgrounds appear to have a higher risk. According to the CDC, however, people in a family often share similar lifestyles, such as dietary choices.

If a person has genetic factors that increase their susceptibility to high blood pressure, and they also make lifestyle choices that increase this risk, they will likely have a greater chance of developing hypertension.

Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts on the artery walls. It is measured in millimeters of mercury mmHg by a gauge attached to a blood pressure cuff. That means that each time the heart contracts, blood is ejected with a force of mmHg. Think of the force of water shooting through a hose when you turn on the spigot. When the heart relaxes in order to refill, this force drops to 80 mmHg. At this point, your doctor may recommend you try certain lifestyle changes to bring it down.

These can include losing weight, exercising and cutting down on salt consumption. Your risk of a cardiovascular event begins to increase exponentially. It may be necessary for you to take one or more medications to bring your pressure down. It indicates something has caused your blood pressure to rise above normal — stress or exercise, for example.

You can have one episode or an occasional episode of high blood pressure. The most common form of hypertension is called primary hypertension. It is a disease in itself largely caused by advancing age and genetics.

Despite its prevalence, primary hypertension is neither desirable nor inevitable. High blood pressure in our later years needs to be addressed.